Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-02
THAT INSURANCE BILL.
To the Editor of the Eagle.

To the Editor of the Eagle.
1t is sad commentary ca the boastet
intelligence and business capacity Of TIT
people of Kansas that it has become neces
sary to take up the cudgel against the pro
posed short-sighted, narrow minded insur
ance legislation.
1t would seem that the experience OF
New Hampshire would have satisfied any
person intelligent enough to represent hi:
district in the Legislature, that it would bt
: difficult to conceive Of more fatal and
deadly blow to the business interests Of this
proud prairie state, than to drive out every
solvent insurance company that is doing
business here.
1t is well known among intelligent bust
ness men, and ought to be among legisla
tors, that no mere local company, unles:
by the most miraculous good fortune, could
hope TO remain solvent for five ears
Suppose all the old solid companies
should withdraw, as some of whom have
already telegrapbed their agents that they
will be compelled to do if the bill becomes
law, where do the property owners Of
Wichita, and Winfield, and Hutchinson,
and all the ambitious young cities Of the
southwest expect to obtain insurance upon
their elegant new buildings?
viii you insure with some lone horse"
affair with the author of the proposed leg
islation as its presidents
Suppose local company should be or
ganized with million dollars paid up cap
ital, and suppose one great fire should
sweep mp Douglas avenue or Main street
alone, don't you sec that it would wipe the
company out of existence?
1t is improbable, however, that
company with SO large capital
could be organized, when it is
known that it must be limited to so small a
territory as the state.
Who is so reckless as to expend large
sums Of money in erecting three, four or
more story business buildings, costing
from $40, 600 to 100000, if he cannot be
safely insured against any confagration,
although it may be so portentious as to
destroy a whole city?
And this is not the only feature so ruin
Gus TO cur progress.
- Where is the man in all the west who
has commenced building costing many
thousand dollars who has not either been
compelled OF found it to his advantage to
obtain a loan upon it?
On building which cost three times as
much as the ground is worth upon which |
il is built. how much of a lean ear you OBJ |
tain without safe insurance?
Now have no interest in either the in
surance or loan business, but 1 see how the
folly of such demagogical and vicious leg |
islation would retsrd the progress, develop
ment and growth of our fair young city |
aud THROW around us to an extent that |
would be disastrous in the last degree. We |
can't afford it. No senator or member |
from the west Or south will dare to face all
Indignant and outraged constituency with
in three months after supporting the meas
uTe.
For one, simply as a private citizen
without fear, favor, prejudice or motive,
other than the common welfare of the peo-
pie Of the state at large, enter my hum
BILE but solemn protest against this pro-
posed folly. Respectfully,
j. IL. HUMPHREY.
The editor CT the EAGLE, nevertheless,
is not sure but that bill is just the thing
If any corporations in this country need sit
ing down on more than others they are
he insurance companies Is is hard to get
l decent rate and if you accept their own
'ates and burn out they hound you with
detectives and force compromise or law
suit The insurance companies take dol
ars cut of Wichita where they pay back
,ents. If the companies want to withdraw
We have no objections. Mutual insurance
5 the best, cheapest and safest anyhow.